Compare towns
Dedham vs Dummer vs Stark vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Dummer | Stark | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
299Lowest |
419 |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
— | — | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | Stark School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.